The Cape May Diamonds Band

The Cape May Diamonds band was started in 1972 when the Destiny Trio featuring Laurie Beechman, Roy Baker and I split up.

The original Cape May Diamonds band was a trio also... Patty Pellegrino, Ric Rutherford and I. We played two summers at the Manor Bar in N. Wildwood. In the Fall of 1974 we added Steve Constant and Ray Porter, bought a van, signed with a talent agency and went out on the road.

We played clubs and hotels throughout western Pennsylvania and upstate New York for a year then came back to Cape May where we were the house band at Gloria on Beach Ave. The band then went through a number of changes member-wise.

We became very popular locally because of some of our original tunes and how tight we had gotten musically as a band. Our makeup at that time was Michael Garrett, Walt Planer, Tony Sailer, Ric Rutherford and me.

After that many more modifications took place and some of us still, to this day, get together to do special reunion gigs at various locations around town.

Some other band members included: Linda Ferrante, Bob Brow, Will & Suza, Rose Kelly, Tommy Vulturo, Steve Cook, Dave Jarvis and Craig Soma.

We were the very first “rock concert” to take place in the new Convention Hall in Cape May. Back in the 70's we also were granted permission by the city of Cape May to do concerts on the back steps of Convention Hall and on the deck of the Sugar Cone restaurant.

It's hard to believe that we are still playing music after 48 years.